From the Feedback - 13/12/00

We'll be publishing the choicest moments from the stuff you send us - but each contribution may or may not be subjected to a rigorous process of editing for language, taste and imparted wisdom. And of course, as they so famously say at the start of anything like this, the opinions expressed in From the Feedback do not necessarily reflect those of the management, staff or investors of madforsport.com. Instead, and much more importantly, they reflect your views.

From Grant Murphy,
In response to Graeme Handley I can only congratulate Pete Goss and his team for their efforts to date, they have really gone for it and how can you criticise a team who have made their own opportunities and sought the sponsorship off their own back? Whether they deserve the backing is not for you and me to decide!! Pete's background as a skipper in a British Steel Challenge boat doesn't qualify him for this? His seamanship in the last Vendee....? Discard your yacht club snobbery Sir! I should imagine there are a lot of Royal Marines around who may disagree with you too...! I disagree with your points, but salute your bravery.

From Guy Evans,
What do you think about Goss` actions? Where would we be today had our forefathers stuck to convention? Goss should be congratulated for "daring to dream". So should his sponsors. Throughout history, it is the likes of Goss who have paved the way for human development. Of course, the human race is composed of all sorts, including naysayers, and those (Chisnell?) who relish the failure of others. Thus far, the "dream-darers" have prevailed (which is why we no longer believe that the earth is flat, and that blood-letting is the cure for all ailments). Long may they continue.

Editor's note: Thanks for the thought, but I've enough failures of my own to relish, without taking joy in those of others ...

From R Whaye,
What do you think about Goss` actions? Setting out on Team Philips, which led to its unfortunate abandonment, was the right thing to do given the circumstances - Pete Goss' intention to enter The Race. However, the big question is, was it right to aim for The Race after all?

In some respects Mike Calvin has been proven right. Take into account the following: Team Philips was an unconventional design (wave-piercing, side-by-side masts with unusual sail configuration, fore-going forward beam); financing (limited) was secured late, which meant building was time-pressed; Team Philips was built from carbon, but the yard did not have any building experience on this scale.

The unconventional design of Team Philips implies that assumptions were made during its design phase that needed to be validated. The designers have admitted, there was not enough money to run the necessary computer simulations or test half models. This has admittedly led to the mast problem. When we compare this to for instance Club Med, Grant Dalton brought in his own consultants to verify the Ollier design during the building phase.

The time pressure and inexperience at the yard may have led to the problem with hulls. If a proper quality control was performed and maintained during the production phase, this would have been detected and corrected there and then. The unconventional design also implied a lot of testing, working her up to the edges of the performance envelope and re-developing the parts that did not meet the demands. The crew is also part of this and therefore it was not strange that Pete Goss on this last trip made the consideration to extend the crew to eight for The Race.
But because of Pete Goss' desire (under pressure of the sponsors?) to enter The Race, all this was thrown overboard with the blind belief that everything will work out. The result is not only a blow to the reputation of Pete Goss, but also to British sailing in general. It will scare off potential sponsors, who will think twice before entering another adventure like this. That is a lot of damage and it will be beyond Pete Goss' charisma and goodwill to repair.